Audiovisual (AV) Device and Control Method Thereof

ABSTRACT

According to one embodiment, an AV device comprises a receiving section, a processing section, a storage section and a control section. The receiving section receives a digital voice signal. The processing section applies a predetermined signal processing operation to the digital voice signal received by the receiving section. The storage section stores information indicating time required for the signal processing operation at the processing section, and when a voice has been set in a mute state, stores the information indicating the time required for the signal processing operation by the processing section which is rewritten into a value that cannot be taken in general. The control section outputs information stored in the storage section upon an external request. Other embodiments are also described.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a Divisional Application of U.S. Ser. No. 12/889,274 filed onSep. 23, 2010 which claims the benefit of priority on U.S. patent Ser.No. 11/603,845 filed Nov. 22, 2006 and is based upon and claims thebenefit of priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2006-090428,filed Mar. 29, 2006, the entire contents of which are incorporatedherein by reference.

BACKGROUND

1. Field

One embodiment of the invention relates to an audiovisual (AV) devicethat transmits or receives a signal such as a video image or audio, forexample, to or from an externally connected electronic device. Inaddition, the present invention relates to an interface system forconnecting the above-described AV device in plurality.

2. Description of the Related Art

As is well known, a digital visual interface (DVI) standard is prevalentas a standard for transmitting a digital video image signal. In recentyears, a high definition multimedia interface (HDMI) standard has beenemployed as a digital signal transmission standard that is a furtherimprovement of this DVI standard.

This HDMI standard, for example, includes a variety of stipulations thatdoes not exit in the DVI standard such as the fact that a digital audiosignal can be multiplexed and transmitted as audio in a blanking periodof a digital video image signal, the fact that a digital video imagesignal is transmitted in an RGB signal format and can be transmitted ina format of a YCbCr signal or in a format of a YPbPr signal that is ofhigher quality than that of the YCbCr signal; and the fact thatconnection can be made via a USB (universal serial bus)-like small sizedHDMI connector.

In addition, in the DVI standard or in the HDMI standard, in the casewhere one electronic device transmits a signal such as a video image oraudio to the other electronic device, a transmitting electronic deviceacquires extended display identification data (EDID) from a receivingelectronic device, thereby a signal can be output in a format thatconforms to specification of receiving a display that the receivingelectronic device has.

Further, in the DVI standard or in the HDMI standard, a plurality ofsignal output ports are installed on the transmitting electronic device,and the receiving electronic devices are connected to the signal outputports, thereby making it possible for the transmitting electronicdevices to transmit an identical signal at the same time or a signal inanother signal-converted format to a plurality of receiving electronicdevices. In this manner, signal transmission can be achieved such thatonly a video image can be displayed by means of a receiving firstelectronic device, and then, only audio is reproduced by means of asecond receiving electronic device.

For example, in the case where the HDMI standard has been employed, anoptical disk reproducing apparatus that reproduces an optical disk suchas a DVD (digital versatile disk) may operate as a transmittingelectronic device while (i) and (i) a large screen high definitiondisplay and (ii) a 2-channel stereo speaker and an AV (audio video)amplifier, which may include a 5.1-channel audio reproducing functionfor example, operate as a plurality of receiving electronic devices. Avideo image with a high image quality is displayed by means of thetelevision image receiver and audio with a high sound quality isreproduced by means of the AV amplifier.

In the meantime, it is necessary to synchronize the display video imageby the television image receiver with audio reproduction by the AVamplifier. As a result, in the television image receiver and in the AVamplifier, times required for processing their video image signal andaudio signal are recorded as the above-described EDID data.

Thus, an optical disk reproducing apparatus can acquire EDID data fromthe television image receiver and the AV amplifier, respectively, andcan control the display video image and the reproduced audio insynchronism with each other by using the time required for video imagesignal processing of the television image receiver and the time requiredfor audio signal processing of the AV amplifier.

However, in a current situation, for synchronization control, it isnecessary for a user to input and set to which signal output port anelectronic device is connected to an optical disk reproducing apparatusthat is a transmitting electronic device, to which signal output port anelectronic device is connected to display a video image, and to whichsignal output port an electronic device is connected to reproduce audio,and handling becomes complicated.

In Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 2005-57714, there is discloseda configuration such that at the time of connecting a plurality ofreceiver devices to a transmitter device and transmitting video imageand audio data that conform to the HDMI standard, video image and audiodata are transmitted to a receiver device capable of reproducing videoimage and audio based on the EDID data acquired from the receiverdevice; only video image data is transmitted to a receiver devicecapable of reproducing only video image; and only audio data istransmitted to a receiver device capable of reproducing only audio.

In addition, in Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 2006-19857, thereis disclosed a configuration such that a tuner, an imagerecording/reproducing apparatus, a monitor can be connected to eachother in longitudinal manner; a receiver requests specification for adesired video image signal to a video image signal transmitter; and, inthe case where the image recording/reproducing apparatus enters a stopmode, a video image signal outputted from the tuner is directlytransmitted to the monitor.

Further, in Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 2002-344898, IEEE1394is disclosed as a standard for interconnecting AV devices, and a DVDplayer, a TV monitor, and an AV amplifier are connected to each other inaccordance with the IEEE standard. In this document, there aredescribed: means for obtaining processing delay information for videoimage display processing of the TV monitor; and means for an AVamplifier to acquire the information and to adjust audio delay.

Furthermore, in Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 2006-33436, anHDMI standard is disclosed as a standard for interconnecting AV devices;and between a video image monitor and an AV amplifier and between the AVamplifier and a DVD player are connected to each other in accordancewith the HDMI standard. Moreover, there are described means foracquiring a delay time for monitor video image display processing andmeans for delaying an audio signal.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

A general architecture that implements the various feature of theinvention will now be described with reference to the drawings. Thedrawings and the associated descriptions are provided to illustrateembodiments of the invention and not to limit the scope of theinvention.

FIG. 1 is an exemplary block diagram showing an embodiment of thepresent invention, the block diagram being adapted to explain an exampleof a signal transmitting system that conforms to an HDMI standard;

FIG. 2 is an exemplary block diagram adapted to explain a signalprocessing system of a television image receiver provided as a receivingAV device in the same embodiment;

FIG. 3 is an exemplary flow chart adapted to explain a main processingoperation of the television image receiver in the same embodiment;

FIG. 4 is an exemplary block diagram adapted to explain a signalprocessing system of an AV amplifier that is a receiving AV device inthe same embodiment;

FIG. 5 is an exemplary block diagram adapted to explain a signalprocessing system of an optical disk reproducing apparatus that is atransmitting AV device in the same embodiment;

FIG. 6 is an exemplary flow chart adapted to explain a main processingoperation of the optical disk reproducing apparatus in the sameembodiment;

FIG. 7 is an exemplary block diagram adapted to explain another exampleof a signal transmitting system that conforms to an HDMI standard in thesame embodiment;

FIG. 8 is an exemplary block diagram adapted to explain a signalprocessing system of STB that is a transmitting AV device in anotherexample of the same signal transmitting system; and

FIG. 9 is an exemplary block diagram adapted to explain a signalprocessing system of an optical disk reproducing apparatus that is atransmitting AV device in another example of the same signaltransmitting system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Various embodiments according to the invention will be describedhereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings. In general,according to one embodiment of the invention, video image and audiosignals are transmitted to a plurality of electronic devices each havingat least one of a video image display function and audio reproducingfunction. Information indicating the fact that at least one of a videoimage and audio has been set in a mute state is acquired from each ofthe electronic devices. Based on the information, a processing operationis applied to the video image and audio signals supplied to each of theelectronic devices.

Certain details are set forth below in order to provide a thoroughunderstanding of various embodiments of the invention, albeit theinvention may be practiced through many embodiments other that thoseillustrated. Herein, certain terminology is used to describe features ofthe invention such as the term “section” that represents hardware and/orsoftware configured to perform one or more particular functions.

FIG. 1 shows an exemplary configuration of a signal transmitting systemthat conforms to an HDMI standard described in the present embodiment.That is, in FIG. 1, reference numeral 11 denotes an optimal diskreproducing apparatus. This optical disk reproducing apparatus 11 isprovided as a transmitting AV device in the signal transmitting system.

This optical disk reproducing apparatus 11 reads data recorded in anoptical disk such as a DVD, for example, and reproduces a digital videoimage signal and an audio signal. Then, the digital video image signaland audio signal reproduced by this optical disk reproducing apparatus11 are converted to digital data in a format that conforms to the HDMIstandard, and is outputted to a plurality of receiving AV devices (twodevices as illustrated).

In the present embodiment, two receiving AV devices are: a televisionimage receiver 12 having a flat panel display capable of displaying ahigh definition video image on a large screen and enabling audioreproduction of stereo 2 channels; and an AV amplifier 13 having afunction of reproducing audio with a high sound quality withmulti-channels such as 5.1 channel and capable of displaying a videoimage on a small screen.

FIG. 2 shows an exemplary signal processing system of theabove-described television image receiver 12. In FIG. 2, constituentelements which receive, channel-select, and demodulate a televisionbroadcast signal are not described for the sake of simplification. Thatis, digital data outputted from the above-described optical diskreproducing apparatus 11 in a format that conforms to the HDMI standardis supplied to an input terminal 15 of the television image receiver 12via a TMDS signal transmission path 14.

The digital data supplied to this input terminal 15 is supplied to anHDMI receiving section 16, and then, the resulting signal isdemultiplexed into a digital video image signal and an audio signal.Among them, the digital video image signal is supplied to a video imageprocessing section 18 that configures a reproducing section 17, apredetermined video image signal processing operation is applied, andthen, the video image is displayed on a flat panel display 19.

In addition, the digital audio signal demultiplexed at the HDMIreceiving section 16 is supplied to an audio processing section 20 thatconfigures the above-described reproducing section 17, a predeterminedaudio signal processing operation is applied, and then, the audio isreproduced by means of a speaker 21 that corresponds to stereo 2channels.

Where the demultiplexed digital audio signal includes control delay dataCDL described later, the HDMI receiving section 16 performs variousoperations so as to delay and output a digital audio signal by a timeinterval specified by the control delay data CDL.

In addition, this television image receiver 12 causes a control section22 to integrally control all of the operations including theabove-described reproducing operation. This control section 22incorporates a central processing unit (CPU) 22 a, receives operationinformation from an operating section 22 b, and controls each section sothat its operational contents are reflected.

In this case, the control section 22 utilizes a memory section 22 c.This memory section 22 c mainly has: a red only memory (ROM) havingstored therein a control program executed by the CPU 22 a; a randomaccess memory (RAM) that provides a work area in the CPU 22 a; and anonvolatile memory having stored therein a variety of settinginformation, control information or the like.

In addition, this control section 22 is connected to an EDID memory 23.This EDID memory 23 records, as EDID: information indicating receivingspecification of the television image receiver 12 (video image displaycapability, audio reproduction, and display capability); timeinformation VD1D indicating a time VD1 required for a video image signalprocessing operation at the video image receiving section 18; timeinformation AD1D indicating a time AD1 required for an audio signalprocessing operation at the audio processing section 20, and the like.

Here, in the above-described control section 22, when a user operatesthe above-described operating section 22 b, thereby setting a videoimage mute state, namely, when a current state is set to a state forstopping a video image display in the flat panel display 19, informationindicating the fact that the television image receiver 12 has been setin a state in which the receiver is not provided for viewing of a videoimage is written into the EDID memory 23.

Writing into the EDID memory 23 the information indicating that thistelevision image receiver 12 has been set in a state in which thereceiver is not provided for video image viewing is easily achieved byrewriting into a value that cannot be generally taken, for example, “0”,the time information VD1D indicating the time VD1 required for the videoimage signal processing operation at the video image processing section18.

In addition, in the above-described control section 22, when a useroperates the above-described operating section 22 b in an audio mutestate, namely, when a current state is set to a state for stopping audioreproduction in the speaker 21, information indicating the fact that thetelevision image receiver 12 has been set in a state in which thereceiver is not provided for audio reception (and subsequent output) iswritten into the EDID memory 23.

Writing into the EDID memory 23 the information indicating that thistelevision image receiver 12 has been set in a state in which thereceiver is not provided for audio reception is easily achieved byrewriting into a value that cannot be generally taken, for example, “0”,the time information AD1D indicating the time AD1 required for the audiosignal processing operation at the audio processing section 20.

That is, the time VD1 required for the video image signal processingoperation at the above-described video image processing section 18 andthe time AD1 required for the audio signal processing operation at theaudio processing section 20 are generally stored in the EDID memory 23in units of 1 millisecond, for example; 1 millisecond is set at minimum,and “0” is not set. Thus, the fact that time information VD1D and AD1Dare set to “0” can be defined as a value that cannot be generally taken.

For example, it becomes possible to define 5 milliseconds or less as avalue that cannot be generally taken, in a system in which the fact thattimes VD1 and AD1 are always set to be more than 5 milliseconds is knownin advance.

In addition, a variety of information stored in this EDID memory 23 areread out from the EDID memory 23 upon request from the optical diskreproducing apparatus 11 that is a transmitting AV device, and the readout information is transmitted to the optical disk reproducing apparatus11 via an output terminal 24 and a DDC (display data channel)communication path 25.

Thus, in the optical disk reproducing apparatus 11, information isacquired from the EDID memory 23 of the television image receiver 12,and the time information VD1D indicating the time VD1 required for thevideo image signal processing operation at the video image processingsection 18 is set to “0”, thereby making it possible to easily identifythe fact that the television image receiver 12 is set in a state inwhich the receiver is not provided for viewing of a video image.

In addition, the optical disk reproducing apparatus 11 acquiresinformation from the EDID memory 23 of the television image receiver 12,and then, sets to “0” the time information AD1D indicating the time AD1required for the audio signal processing operation at the audioprocessing section 20, thereby making it possible to easily identify thefact that the television image receiver 12 is set in a state in whichthe receiver is not provided for audio reception.

FIG. 3 shows a flow chart summarizing an operation of rewriting timeinformation VD1D and AD1D of the EDID memory 23 in the above-describedtelevision image receiver 12. That is, when a processing operation isstarted (block S1), the control section 22 determines whether or notmain power of the television image receiver 12 has been turned ON inblock S2. In the case where it has been determined that the main poweris not turned ON (NO), the processing operation is terminated (blockS9).

In addition, in the case where it has been determined that main power isturned ON in the above block S2 (YES), the control section 22 determineswhether or not a video image mute state has been set by means of a userin block S3. Then, in the case where it has been determined that thevideo image mute state is set (YES), the control section 22 sets to “0”the time information VD1D indicating the time VD1 required for the videoimage signal processing operation at the video image processing section18, the time information being stored in the EDID memory 23, in blockS4.

On the other hand, in the case where it has been determined that thevideo image mute state is not set in the above block S3 (NO), thecontrol section 22 sets to an essential value the time information VD1Dindicating the time VD1 required for the video image signal processingoperation at the video image processing section 18, the time informationbeing stored in the EDID memory 23, in block S5.

After the above block S4 or block S5, the control section 22 determineswhether or not an audio mute state has been set by a user, in block S6.In the case where it has been determined that the audio mute state isset (YES), the control section 22 sets to “0” the time information AD1Dindicating the time AD1 required for the audio signal processingoperation at the audio processing section 20, the time information beingstored in the EDID memory 23, in block S7, and a current processingoperation returns to that shown in block S2.

In the case where it has been determined that the audio mute state isnot set in the above block S6 (NO), the control section 22 sets to theessential value the time information AD1D indicating the time AD1required for the audio signal processing operation at the audioprocessing section 20, the time information being stored in the EDIDmemory 23, in block S8, and a current processing operation returns tothat shown in block S2.

According to the television image receiver 12 that is theabove-described receiving AV device, in the case where the video imagemute state has been set by the user, the time information VD1Dindicating the time VD1 required for the video image signal processingoperation at the video image processing section 18, the time informationbeing stored in the EDID memory 23, is set to “0”. In the case where theaudio mute state has been set by the user, the time information AD1Dindicating the time AD1 required for the audio signal processingoperation at the audio processing section 20, the time information beingstored in the EDID memory 23, is set to “0”.

Thus, the television image receiver 12 causes the optical diskreproducing apparatus 11 that is a transmitting AD device to acquire thetime information VD1D and AD1D stored in the EDID memory 23, therebymaking it possible to easily identify the fact that the television imagereceiver 12 has been set in a state in which the receiver is notprovided for video image viewing or audio reception.

In the case where an audio mute key of the operating section 22 b isoperated, the television image receiver 12 is set to the audio mutestate. In addition, in the case where a volume control operator of theoperating section 22 b is controlled to a position that corresponds to aminimum volume, the audio mute state is set. That is, the abovedescription expressing a video image mute and an audio mute denotes astate in which the receiver is not mainly provided for viewing orreception.

FIG. 4 shows a signal processing system of the above-described AVamplifier 13. That is, digital data outputted from the above-describedoptical disk reproducing apparatus 11 in a format that conforms to theHDMI standard is supplied to an input terminal 27 of the AV amplifier 13via the TMDS signal transmission path 26.

The digital data supplied to this input terminal 27 is supplied to anHDMI receiving section 28, and the resulting digital data isdemultiplexed into a digital video image and a digital audio signal.From among them, the digital video image signal is supplied to a videoimage processing section 30 that configures a reproducing section 29, apredetermined video image signal processing operation is applied, andthen, a video image is displayed on a small screen display 31.

In addition, the digital audio signal demultiplexed by the HDMIreceiving section 28 is supplied to an audio processing section 32 thatconfigures the above-described reproducing section 29, a predeterminedaudio signal processing operation is applied, and then, audio isreproduced by a speaker 33 that corresponds to 5.1 channel.

In this HDMI receiving section 28, there is provided a function of, inthe case where the demultiplexed digital audio signal includes controldelay data CDL, delaying and outputting the digital audio signal withthe control delay data CDL by a specified time.

This AV amplifier 13 causes a control section 34 to integrally controlall of the operations including the above-described reproducingoperation. This control section 34 incorporates a CPU 34 a, and controlseach section so that its operational contents are reflected, based onthe operation information from the operating section 34 b.

In this case, the control section 34 utilizes a memory section 34 c.This memory section 34 c mainly has: a ROM having stored therein acontrol program executed by the CPU 34 a; a RAM that provides a workarea to the CPU 34 a; and a nonvolatile memory having stored therein avariety of setting information, control information and the like.

This control section 34 is connected to an EDID memory 35. This EDIDmemory 35 records, as EDID: information indicating receivingspecification (video image display capability and audio reproducingcapability) of the AV amplifier 13; time information VD2D indicating atime VD2 required for a video image signal processing operation at thevideo image processing section 30; time information AD2D indicating atime AD2 required for an audio signal processing operation at the audioprocessing section 32 and the like.

Here, in the above-described control section 34, when a user operatesthe above-described operating section 34 b, and sets a current state tovideo image mute state, namely, when a state for stopping a video imagedisplay in the display 31 has been set, information indicating the factthat the AV amplifier 13 has been set in a state in which the amplifieris not provided for video image viewing (in actuality, a video imagedisplay may be provided, but a user is mainly watching the televisionimage receiver 12) is written into the EDID memory 35.

Writing into the EDID memory 35 the information indicating that this AVamplifier 13 has been set in a state in which the amplifier is notprovided for video image viewing is easily achieved by rewriting to avalue that cannot be generally taken, for example, “0”, the timeinformation VD2D indicating the time VD2 required for the video imagesignal processing operation at the video image processing section 30.

In addition, in the above-described control section 34, when a useroperates the above-described operating section 34 b, and sets a currentstate to an audio mute state, namely, when a current state is set to astate for stopping audio reproduction in the speaker 33, informationindicating the fact that the AV amplifier 13 has been set to a state inwhich the amplifier is not provided for audio reception is written intothe EDID memory 35.

Writing into the EDID memory 35 the information indicating that this AVamplifier 13 has been set in a state in which the amplifier is notprovided for audio reception is easily achieved by rewriting to a valuethat cannot be generally taken, for example, “0”, the time informationAD2D indicating the time AD2 required for the audio signal processingoperation at the audio image processing section 32.

That is, the time VD2 required for the video image signal processingoperation at the above-described video image processing section 30 andthe time AD2 required for the audio signal processing operation at theaudio processing section 32 are stored in the EDID memory 35 in units of1 millisecond, in general, 1 millisecond is set to the minimum, and “0”is not set. Thus, the fact that time information VD2D and AD2D are setto “0” can be defined as a value that cannot be taken in general.

For example, it becomes possible to define 5 milliseconds or less as avalue that cannot be taken in general in a system in which times VD2 andAD2 are known to be always more than 5 milliseconds.

In addition, a variety of information stored in this EDID memory 35 areread out from the EDID memory 35 upon request from the optical diskreproducing apparatus 11 that is a transmitting AD device, and the readout information is transmitted to the optical disk reproducing apparatus11 via an output terminal 36 and a DDC communication path 37.

Thus, the optical disk reproducing apparatus 11 acquires informationfrom the EDID memory 35 of the AV amplifier 13, and then, sets to “0”time information VD2D indicating the time VD2 required for the videoimage signal processing operation at the video image processing section30, thereby making it possible to easily identify the fact that the AVamplifier 13 has been set in a state in which the amplifier is notprovided for video image viewing.

In addition, the optical disk reproducing apparatus 11 acquiresinformation from the EDID memory 35 of the AV amplifier 13, and sets to“0” the time information AD2D indicating the time AD2 required for theaudio signal processing operation at the audio processing section 32,thereby making it possible to easily identify the fact that the AVamplifier 13 has been set to a state in which the amplifier is notprovided for audio reception.

According to the AV amplifier 13 that is the above-described receivingAV device, in the case where a video image mute state has been set by auser, the time information VD2D indicating the time VD2 required for thevideo image signal processing operation at the video image processingsection 30, the time information being stored in the EDID memory 35, isset to “0”. When an audio mute state has been set by the user, the timeinformation AD2D indicating the time AD2 required for the audio signalprocessing operation at the audio processing section 32, the timeinformation being stored in the EDID memory 35, is set to “0”.

Thus, the AV amplifier 13 causes the optical disk reproducing apparatus11 that is a transmitting AV device to acquire the time information VD2Dand AD2D stored in that EDID memory 35, thereby making it possible toeasily identify the fact that the AV amplifier 13 has been set in astate in which the amplifier is not provided for video image viewing oraudio reception.

As the AV amplifier 13, a current state is set to an audio mute state inthe case where an audio mute key of an operating section 34 b of theamplifier has been operated. In addition, in the case where a volumecontrol operator of the operating section 34 b has been controlled to aposition that corresponds to a minimum volume, the audio mute state isset. Alternatively, in the case where a state of headphone listening isestablished and no video image display is mainly set by a user, theaudio mute state is set.

FIG. 5 shows a signal processing system of the above-described opticaldisk reproducing apparatus 11. That is, an optical disk 38 such as a DVDis mounted on a disk drive section 40 that configures a disk reproducingsection 39, and data recorded therein is read. The data read by thisdisk drive section 40 is supplied to a video image decoder section 41and an audio decoder section 42, respectively.

Among them, the video image decoder section 41 samples a video imagecomponent from inputted data, and then, applies a decoding processingoperation, thereby generating a digital video image signal. In addition,the audio decoder section 42 samples an audio component from theinputted data, and then, applies a decoding processing operation,thereby generating a digital audio signal.

Then, the digital audio signal generated by the above-described audiodecoder section 42 is supplied to a delay control section 43, and apredetermined amount of delay processing operation described later isapplied. In addition, this delay control section 43 controls a delayamount when a delay processing operation is applied to the inputteddigital audio signal.

Here, the digital video image signal generated by the above-describedvideo image decoder section 41 is supplied to an input terminal of eachof two HDMI transmitter sections 44 and 45. In addition, the digitalaudio signal outputted from the audio decoder section 42 and the digitalaudio signal outputted from the delay control section 43 are selectivelysupplied by means of a switch 47 that configures a selector section 46to the other input terminal of the HDMI transmitter section 44.

In addition, the digital audio signal outputted from the audio decodersection 42 and the digital audio signal outputted from the delay controlsection 43 are selectively supplied by means of a switch 48 thatconfigures the selector section 46 to the other input terminal of theHDMI transmitter section 45.

The above-described HDMI transmitter section 44 temporally multiplexesthe inputted digital video image signal and audio signal; converts themultiplexed signals to digital data in a format that conforms to theHDMI standard; and outputs the converted data to the television imagereceiver 12 via an output terminal 49 a of an input/output port 49 andthe TMDS signal transmission path 14.

In addition, the above-described HDMI transmitter section 45 temporallymultiplexes the inputted digital video image signal and audio signal;converts the multiplexed signals to digital data in a format thatconforms to the HDMI standard; and outputs the converted data to the AVamplifier 13 via an output terminal 50 a of an input/output port 50 andthe TMDS signal transmission path 26.

Thus, the optical disk reproducing apparatus 11 causes a control section51 to integrally control all of the operations including theabove-described reproducing operation. This control section 51incorporates a CPU 51 a, and controls each section so that itsoperational contents are reflected, respectively, based on operationinformation from an operating section 51 b.

In this case, the control section 51 utilizes a memory section 51 c.This memory section 51 c mainly has: a ROM having stored therein acontrol program executed by the CPU 51 a; a RAM that provides a workarea to the CPU 51 a; a nonvolatile memory having stored therein avariety of setting information and control information and the like.

In addition, this control section 51 is connected to a DDC communicationpath 25 for transmitting information read out from the EDID memory 23 ofthe television image receiver 12 via the input terminal 49 b of theinput/output port 49. Further, this control section 51 is connected to aDDC communication path 37 for transmitting information read out from theEDID memory 35 of the AV amplifier 13 via the input terminal 50 b of theinput/output port 50.

In this manner, the control section 51 can acquire information stored inthe EDID memory 23 of the television image receiver 12 and informationstored in the EDID memory 35 of the AV amplifier 13, respectively.

FIG. 6 shows a flow chart summarizing an operation of the optical diskreproducing apparatus 11 automatically judging an AV device thatdisplays a video image and an AV device that reproduces audio, based onthe information stored in the EDID memory 23 of the television imagereceiver 12 and the information stored in the EDID memory 35 of the AVamplifier 13; and controlling the displayed video image and thereproduced audio so as to be synchronized with each other.

Now, an operation will be described by way of example in which a userprovides settings so as to view a display video image by the flat paneldisplay 19 of the television image receiver 12 and so as to hear areproduced audio by the speaker 33 of the AV amplifier 13.

That is, in this case, the user sets the television image receiver 12 toan audio mute state, namely, to a state in which the television imagereceiver 12 is not provided for audio reception, and sets the AVamplifier 13 to a video image mute state, namely, to a state in whichthe AV amplifier 13 is not provided for video image viewing.

Thus, the EDID memory 23 of the television image receiver 12 sets to “0”time information AD1D indicating a time AD1 required for the audiosignal processing operation at that audio processing section 20. TheEDID memory 35 of the AV amplifier 13 sets to “0” time information VD2Dindicating a time VD2 required for the video image signal processingoperation at the video image processing section 30.

When a processing operation is started (in block S10), the controlsection 51 of the optical disk reproducing apparatus 11 determineswhether or not receiving AV devices (television image receiver 12 and AVamplifier 13 in this case) have been connected to both of the twoinput/output ports 49 and 50, respectively, in block S11.

In the case where it is determined that the above connection has beenmade (YES), the control section 51 requests the television imagereceiver 12 to acquire the information stored in its EDID memory 23 inblock S12, and then, requests the AV device 13 to acquire theinformation stored in its EDID memory 35 in block S13.

Then, in block S14, from among the information acquired from each of theEDID memories 23 and 35, the control section 51 identifies values of:time information VD1D indicating a time VD1 required for a video imagesignal processing operation at the video image processing section 18;time information AD1D indicating a time AD1 required for an audio signalprocessing operation at the audio processing section 20; timeinformation VD2D indicating a time VD2 required for a video image signalprocessing operation at the video image processing section 30; and timeinformation AD2D indicating a time AD2 required for an audio signalprocessing operation at the audio processing section 32.

In this case, as described previously, the time information AD1D andVD2D are set to “0”, and the time information VD1D and AD2D havepredetermined values. In this manner, the control section 51 sets thetelevision image receiver 12 in a state in which the image receiver isnot provided for audio reception, and then, sets the AV amplifier 13 ina state in which the amplifier is not provided for video image viewing.Namely, it is possible to determine that video image display by thetelevision image receiver 12 and audio reproduction by the AV amplifier13 are set so as to be carried out.

Thus, in block S15, the control section 51 supplies to the delay controlsection 43 a difference between the time information VD1D indicating thetime VD1 required for the video image signal processing at the videoimage processing section 18 and the time information AD2D indicating thetime AD2 required for the audio signal processing operation at the audioprocessing section 32, and then, delays a digital audio signal outputtedfrom the audio decoder section 42 so that a video image displayed on theflat panel display 19 of the television image receiver 12 and audioreproduced by the speaker 33 of the AV amplifier 13 are synchronizedwith each other; and terminates a processing operation (in block S16).

The delay control section 43 delays a time component obtained bysubtracting time information AD2D from time information VD1D so as todelay a digital audio signal outputted from the audio decoder section 42by this time component, so that an audio signal outputted from the audioprocessing section 32 is synchronized with a video image signaloutputted from the video image processing section 18, namely, a shortertime required for a signal processing operation is adjusted to a longertime.

Then, while the digital video image signal outputted from the videoimage decoder section 41 of the optical disk reproducing apparatus 11 issupplied to the television image receiver 12 and the AV amplifier 13 viathe HDMI transmitter sections 44 and 45, the AV amplifier 13 is set to avideo image mute state so as to be provided for video image display onthe flat panel display 19 of the television image receiver 12.

In addition, the digital audio signals each outputted from the audiodecoder section 42 and the delay control section 43 are selected bymeans of the switch 47 of the selector section 46, and the selectedsignals each are supplied to the television image receiver 12 via theHDMI transmitter section 44. However, the television image receiver 12is set to an audio mute state, and thus, is not provided for audioreproduction thereat.

On the other hand, the digital audio signals each outputted from theaudio decoder section 42 and the delay control section 43 are selectedby means of the switch 48 of the selector section 46, and the selectedsignals each are supplied to the AV amplifier 13 via the HDMItransmitter section 45, and then, is provided for audio reproductionthereat.

In this case, as shown in FIG. 5, assuming that the switch 48 has beenchanged so as to supply the digital audio signal outputted from thedelay control section 43 to the HDMI transmitter section 45, the digitalaudio signal to which a delay processing operation of a quantityrequired to obtain synchronization with a display video image has beenapplied is supplied to the AV amplifier 13. Thus, the AV amplifier 13enables audio to be synchronized with a video image by signal-processingthe supplied digital audio signal as it is, and then, causing thespeaker 33 to reproduce the audio. Means for transmitting this fact isthe control delay data CDL transmitted to the AV amplifier 13, and, inthis case, “0” is set. The control delay data CDL is calculated on theside of the optical disk reproducing apparatus 11; a delay iscontrolled; and the control value CDL at the later stage is calculatedand sent.

In addition, unlike FIG. 5, assuming that the above switch 48 has beenchanged so as to supply the digital audio signal outputted from theaudio decoder section 42 to the HDMI transmitter section 45, a signalobtained when the control delay data CDL has been multiplexed withoutapplying a delay processing operation is supplied to the AV amplifier 13as HDMI transmission.

In this case, the HDMI receiving section 28 of the AV amplifier 13functions to apply and output the delay processing operation based onthe multiplexed control delay data CDL in response to an HDMI signalafter the digital video image signal and audio signal have beendemultiplexed from the inputted digital data. Thus, the AV amplifier 13enables audio to be synchronized with a video image by causing the HDMIreceiving section 28 to signal-process a digital audio signal to which adelay processing operation of a quantity required to obtainsynchronization with a display video image is applied and by causing thespeaker 33 to reproduce audio.

The switches 47 and 48 of the above selector section 46 each are changedunder the control of the control section 51. For example, the controlsection 51 can identify the performance of each AV device based on theEDID acquired from external receiving AV device and can control changeof each of the switches 47 and 48 in response to a result of theidentification.

The above-described optical disk reproducing apparatus 11 automaticallyidentifies that, based on time information VD1D, AD1D, VD2D, and AD2Dstored in the EDID memories 23 and 35 of the receiving television imagereceiver 12 and the AV amplifier 13, the television image receiver 12 isset by a user so as not to be provided for voice reception, and then,the AV amplifier 13 is set by a user so as not to be provided for videoimage viewing. In addition, this reproducing apparatus is controlled sothat the video image displayed by the television image receiver 12 andthe voice reproduced by the AV amplifier 13 are synchronized with eachother. Thus, the user's handling can be made very convenient.

While, in the above-described optical disk reproducing apparatus 11, thedigital audio signal applied with a decoding processing operation issupplied to the AV amplifier 13 to reproduce audio, for example, it is amatter of course that a construction may be provided so as to supply tothe AV amplifier 13 the digital audio signal in a compressed formatbefore decoded, and then, apply a decoding processing operation to theaudio signal by means of the AV amplifier 13.

FIG. 7 shows another example of a signal transmitting system thatconforms to an HDMI standard. That is, this signal transmitting systemcomprises a STB (set top box) 52 as a transmitting AV device.

The digital video image signal and audio signal generated by this STB 52are converted to digital data in a format that conforms to the HDMIstandard, and then, the converted digital data is supplied to thetelevision image receiver 12 and the AV amplifier 13 serving asreceiving AV devices, via the above optical disk reproducing apparatus11 serving as a relay device, and is provided for video image displayand audio reproduction.

FIG. 8 shows a signal processing system of the above-described STB 52.That is, the television broadcast signal received via an antenna 53 issupplied to a channel selector/decoder section 55 via an input terminal54. This channel selector/decoder section 55 selects a signal of apredetermined channel from an inputted television broadcast signal, andthen, applies a decoding processing operation to the thuschannel-selected signal, thereby generating a digital video image signaland a digital audio signal.

Then, the digital video image signal and audio signal generated by thischannel selector/decoder section 55 are supplied to an HDMI transmittersection 56. This HDMI transmitter section 56 temporally multiplexes theinputted digital video image signal and audio signal; converts themultiplexed signals to digital data in a format that conforms to theHDMI standard; and outputs the converted digital data to the opticaldisk reproducing apparatus 11 via an output terminal 57 and a TMDSsignal transmission path 58.

Then, this STB 52 integrally controls all of the operations includingthe above-described receiving operation by means of a control section59. This control section 59 incorporates a CPU 59 a, and controls eachsection so that its operational contents are reflected, based on theoperation information from an operating section 59 b.

In this case, the control section 59 utilizes a memory section 59 c.This memory section 59 c mainly has: a ROM having stored therein acontrol program executed by the CPU 59 a; a RAM that provides a workarea to the CPU 59 a; and a nonvolatile memory having stored therein avariety of setting information, control information and the like.

In addition, this control section 59 is connected to a DDC communicationpath 61 for transmitting information read out from an EDID memorydescribed later, the EDID memory being provided in the optical diskreproducing apparatus 11 via an input terminal 60.

FIG. 9 shows a signal processing system of the optical disk reproducingapparatus 11 in the case where it is used as a relay device. In FIG. 9,like constituent elements as those in FIG. 5 are designated by likereference numerals. That is, digital data in a format that conforms tothe HDMI standard, the digital data being supplied from the above STB 52via a TMDS signal transmission path 58, is supplied to an HDMI receivingsection 63 via an input terminal 62 a of an input/output port 62.

This HDMI receiving section 63 demultiplexes the inputted digital datainto a digital video image signal and a digital audio signal. Then, thedigital video image signal and audio signal outputted from this HDMIreceiving section 63 are supplied to the above-described selectorsection 46.

In this case, the above selector section 46 extends its function so asto selectively carry out operations of: supplying to the HDMItransmitter sections 44 and 45 the digital video image signal and audiosignal outputted from the HDMI receiving section 63, respectively;supplying to the HDMI transmitter sections 44 and 45, respectively, thedigital video image signal outputted from the video image decodersection 41 of the above disk reproducing section 39; and carrying outthe switching operation as described previously in FIG. 5 with respectto the digital audio signal outputted from the audio decoder section 42and the digital audio signal outputted from the delay control section43, and then, supplying the switched audio signals to the HDMItransmitter sections 44 and 45, respectively.

In addition, the optical disk reproducing apparatus 11 incorporates anEDID memory 64. As described previously, in the case where thetelevision image receiver 12 is set in an audio mute state, and the AVamplifier 13 is set in a video image mute state, the control section 51copies information relating to video image display acquired from theEDID memory 23 of the television image receiver 12. In addition, thiscontrol section 51 records in the EDID memory 64 time information VD3Dobtained by adding information indicating a delay time VD3 of a videoimage signal of the selector section 46 in the optical disk reproducingapparatus 11, to time information VD1D indicating a time VD1 requiredfor the video image signal processing operation at a video imageprocessing section 18.

Further, the control section 51 copies information relating to audiodisplay acquired from the EDID memory 35 of the AV amplifier 13. Inaddition, this control section records in the EDID memory 64, timeinformation AD3D obtained by adding information indicating a delay timeAD3 of an audio signal of the selector section 46 in the optical diskreproducing apparatus 11 to a time information AD2D indicating a timeAD2 required for an audio signal processing operation at the audioprocessing section 32.

Then, the time information VD3D and AD3D stored in this EDID memory 64are read out from the EDID memory 64 upon request from the STB 52 thatis a transmitting AV device, and then, the read out information istransmitted to the STB 52 via the DDC communication path 61 of theinput/output port 62.

Then, a control section 59 of the STB 52 calculates a difference betweena sum of the time information VD3D acquired from the EDID memory 64 ofthe optical disk reproducing apparatus 11 and the video image processingdelay time at the channel selector/decoder section 55 of the STB 52 anda sum of the time information AD3D and the audio processing delay timeat the channel selector/decoder section 55 of the STB 52; and then,outputs to an HDMI transmitter section 56 the information indicating atime that corresponds to such a difference as control delay data CDL. Inthis manner, the HDMI transmitter section 56 multiplexed the controldelay data CDL with a digital signal, and then, outputs the multiplexeddata.

Thus, an HDMI receiving section 63 of the optical disk reproducingapparatus 11 functions to multiplex a digital video image signal and adigital audio signal from inputted digital data, and then, apply a delayprocessing operation based on the multiplexed control delay data CDL tothe digital audio signal so as to output the applied signal to the AVamplifier 13. Thus, the AV amplifier 13 enables audio to be synchronizedwith a video image by signal-processing the digital audio signal appliedwith the delay processing operation of a quantity required to obtainsynchronization with a display video image, and then, causing thespeaker 33 to reproduce audio.

As described above, even in the case where the optical disk reproducingapparatus 11 has been used as a relay device, it is possible toautomatically identify the fact that the television image receiver 12 isset by a user so as not to be provided for audio reception, and the AVamplifier 13 is set by a user so as not to be provided for video imageviewing.

In addition, the digital data outputted from the STB 52 that is atransmitting AV device can be controlled so that a video image displayedby the television image receiver 12 and the audio reproduced by the AVamplifier 13 are synchronized with each other in consideration of asignal delay caused by the optical disk reproducing apparatus 11 servingas a relay device, and the handling by the user can be made veryconvenient.

While the above description of using the optical disk reproducingapparatus 11 as a relay device has assumed that the HDMI receivingsection 63 of the optical disk reproducing apparatus 11 applies a delayprocessing operation based on control delay data CDL included therein toa digital audio signal, without being limited thereto, a digital audiosignal multiplexed with the control delay data CDL is relayed to the AVamplifier 13 as it is so as to apply a delay processing operation basedon the control delay data CDL included therein to a digital audio signalby means of the HDMI receiving section 28 of the AV amplifier 13.

In addition, a delay circuit for delaying a digital audio signal appliedwith a decoding processing operation is incorporated in the STB 52,making it possible to output from the STB 52 a digital audio signal tobe delayed by a time that corresponds to a difference between a sum oftime information VD3D acquired from the EDID memory 64 of the opticaldisk reproducing apparatus 11 and a video image processing delay time atthe channel selector/decoder section 55 of the STB 52 and a sum of timeinformation AD3D and an audio processing delay time at the channelselector/decoder section 55 of the STB 52.

While certain embodiments of the inventions have been described, theseembodiments have been presented by way of example only, and are notintended to limit the scope of the inventions. Indeed, the novel methodsand systems described herein may be embodied in a variety of otherforms; furthermore, various omissions, substitutions and changes in theform of the methods and systems described herein may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit of the inventions. The accompanying claims andtheir equivalents are intended to cover such forms or modifications aswould fall within the scope and spirit of the inventions.

1. An AV device comprising: a receiving section configured to receive adigital voice signal; a processing section configured to apply apredetermined signal processing operation to the digital voice signalreceived by the receiving section; a storage section configured to storeinformation indicating time required for the signal processing operationat the processing section, and when a voice has been set in a mutestate, store the information indicating the time required for the signalprocessing operation by the processing section which is rewritten into avalue that cannot be taken in general; and a control section configuredto output information stored in the storage section upon an externalrequest.
 2. An AV device according to claim 1, wherein when the voicehas been set in a mute state, the storage section is configured to storethe information indicating the time required for the signal processingoperation by the processing section which is rewritten into a valueindicating that the time is set to “0”.
 3. An AV device according toclaim 1, wherein the receiving section receives the digital voice signalas digital data in a format that conforms to an HDMI standard.
 4. An AVdevice according to claim 1, wherein the storage section is an EDIDmemory.
 5. A method of controlling an AV device comprising: performingfirst processing to a plurality of first AV devices each of which has afunction of performing a predetermined signal processing operation to aninput digital voice signal, the first processing including storinginformation indicating time required for the predetermined signalprocessing operation which is rewritten into a value that cannot betaken in general when a voice has been set in a mute state; performingsecond processing to a second AV device which causes the plurality offirst AV devices to reproduce voice by transmitting the digital voicesignal, the second processing including acquiring the information storedin the first AV devices in the first processing; and performing thirdprocessing including judging the setting status regarding mute of eachfirst AV device based on the information acquired by the secondprocessing and performing a predetermined signal processing operation inaccordance with the judgment result to the digital signal transmittedfrom the second AV device.
 6. The method of controlling the AV device ofclaim 5, wherein the third processing including determining a first AVdevice capable of voice reproduction among the plurality of first AVdevices, based on the information acquired by the second processing. 7.A method of controlling an AV device comprising: performing firstprocessing to a plurality of first AV devices each of which has afunction of performing a predetermined signal processing operation to aninput digital voice signal, the first processing including storinginformation indicating time required for the predetermined signalprocessing operation which is rewritten into a value that cannot betaken in general when a voice has been set in a mute state; performingsecond processing to a second AV device which causes the plurality offirst AV devices to reproduce voice by transmitting the digital voicesignal, the second processing including acquiring the information storedin the first AV devices in the first processing; and performing thirdprocessing including judging the setting status regarding mute of eachfirst AV device based on the information acquired by the secondprocessing and performing third processing including performing apredetermined signal processing operation in accordance with thejudgment result to information acquired by a third AV device whichtransmits the digital signal to the second AV device.
 8. The method ofcontrolling the AV device of claim 7, wherein the third processingselects information on a side on which an operating state of a voice ofsaid plurality of first AV devices is established, and provides EDIDinformation acquired by the third AD device.